Mercedes AMG F1 W06 Speculation

[prince]

teams are operating with that as an accepted parameter.

acceptable =/= optimal. He's at 13.5k because he's spinning the tires to rev limit. If he had no wheel spin he'd shift at his normal point at around 12.5k, as he usually does.

Agreed, that if there was no wheel spin, the revs might not have been higher. But the point I am making is, there has been wheel spin, throughout the year and if that is causing the revs up, it still revs up.

[OO7]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

This is a very valid point.
One thing I don't quite understand with Mercedes, is that they launched the W05 with almost nonexistent sidepod cooling exits, they were so small as seen here:

These cooling ducts were only used on the first day of the Jerez test, there after Mercedes switched to a much more substantial design. I find it difficult to believe that Mercedes were so far out with their calculations.

I thought that perhaps because Jerez was so cold at that time and the early runs were most likely run at very low power levels, the smaller exits were necessary to keep the PU at the correct operating temperature. However why would Mercedes spend time and money designing a cooling exit that was only to be used once, when they could have simply blanked off part of the larger design?

[Phillyred]

Merc has historically had an issue with cooling throughout the last 4yrs so I'm sure they erred on the side of keeping the W05 "cool" in the testing stages to get a feel for running temps. A lot of teams had major issues with cooling early on this year most noticeably Red Bull.

[OO7]

Merc has historically had an issue with cooling throughout the last 4yrs so I'm sure they erred on the side of keeping the W05 "cool" in the testing stages to get a feel for running temps. A lot of teams had major issues with cooling early on this year most noticeably Red Bull.

But the larger cooling exits were what they also raced with, so I still wonder why they went for the ultra compact exits on the first day.

[mrluke]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

Scarbs, can you expand on this? If they get more power out of the same amount of fuel wouldn't they have less heat to reject?

[wesley123]

Larger intercooler is what I am thinking of.

[Holm86]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

Scarbs, can you expand on this? If they get more power out of the same amount of fuel wouldn't they have less heat to reject?

If the power increase is only due to increased efficiency, then yes. But I've heard Ferrari prioritised engine power less to be able to have smaller radiators, for better aero. Which turned out to be the wrong strategy, perhaps Mercedes had taken a more power baised balance in their desicion, but maby there is room for even more power if they increase their cooling abilities.

[Moose]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

Scarbs, can you expand on this? If they get more power out of the same amount of fuel wouldn't they have less heat to reject?

As you'll see on the previous page, increased efficiency doesn't only come from converting the same amount of fuel to kinetic energy instead of heat, it also comes from converting more of the fuel that was injected into energy of any kind rather than leaving it unburned or partially burned.

Mercedes is already rumoured to be gaining 40hp from higher pressure injectors that cause a more complete burning of the fuel, that will certainly add heat as well as power.

[WaikeCU]

If sidepods get bigger, then does that mean the airflow will get disturbed towards the back of the car?

[OO7]

If sidepods get bigger, then does that mean the airflow will get disturbed towards the back of the car?

Generally speaking larger sidepods will hinder aero performance.

[scarbs]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

Scarbs, can you expand on this? If they get more power out of the same amount of fuel wouldn't they have less heat to reject?

I see your point, but it doesnt quite work that way. running the engine leaner for more power, passing more power cycles through the ERS will all end up producing more heat. Heat that needs to be managed through larger coolers

[ParkerArt]

Oddly sidepods might get bigger. Team's will be pushing the PU harder and rejecting more heat

Scarbs, can you expand on this? If they get more power out of the same amount of fuel wouldn't they have less heat to reject?

I see your point, but it doesnt quite work that way. running the engine leaner for more power, passing more power cycles through the ERS will all end up producing more heat. Heat that needs to be managed through larger coolers

That is true, the 80s turbo cars ran very rich at time as the unburnt fuel would lower exhaust temperatures. Road cars do the same, the ATF ratio gets quite rich at high rpm and engine load so you don't kill the catalytic converter(s).

[adrianjordan]

the other "elephant" in the room to be addressed is the NOISE!! will it be getting any louder anytime soon?

You'd have to ask Bernie. FOM is in charge of the trackside mics that are still tuned for the V8s of old...possibly even for the V10s given how out of touch Mr E is..!!

[Moose]

the other "elephant" in the room to be addressed is the NOISE!! will it be getting any louder anytime soon?

No, quite the reverse - as the teams make the engines better they'll get quieter, not louder.

[PlatinumZealot]

Moose. It is well known F1A are working with the engine makers to make louder engines. The sound can be made independent of the efficiency for various reasons - the sort of exhaust piping you have is one. We see how different teams with the same engine have different loudness.